Hoke: Williams and Avery back, Gardner gets encouragement from Manziel

Submitted by dnak438 on

Hoke: A.J. Williams and Courtney Avery are back

— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 18, 2013

 

Gardner: Johnny Manziel sent me a text after the game telling me to keep my head up

— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 18, 2013

I'm not sure how much to read into this:

Hoke on if same starting five OL will start Saturday "I don't know yet. We'll see what happens"

— angelique (@chengelis) September 18, 2013

gwkrlghl

September 18th, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^

They're peers going through a very unique experience for someone their age (being a national figure for a major college football program) and they have to feel like they're out on an island sometimes. I'm sure they appreciate little things from their peers like that sometimes. It's not like Manziel is a total rando, they probably met at the Manning Passing Academy at least

Owl

September 18th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^

I have no problems with constructive criticism, I do have personal trouble with things like encouragement, compliments, things like that. 

Also, I recognize that my reaction isn't a good one. I'm not saying that others should have that reaction. I'm not saying that that's what Manziel intended. I'm not saying that's the reaction I want to have. 

I made a stupid comment on the internet about my personal, unhealthy reaction. 

Goblue89

September 18th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^

Gardner and Manziel spent some time together at both the Manning Passing Academy and as couselors for the Elite 11.  They also have both worked out with George Whitfield, the passing guru.  They definitely know each other and probably sparked a friendship along the way.  I actually think it's pretty good of Manziel to send that text during the biggest game of season.  He was under a ton of pressure this past weekend the idea of him thinking about one of his fellow QB's is pretty cool if you ask me!  I'm guessing you probably just don't like Manziel; what would your thoughts be had Denard sent that text? (and who knows he probably did!)

Owl

September 18th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^

Woah, that got a lot of responses! I have nothing against Manziel. Honestly I think most college athletes are like him, he's just been really bad about hiding it from the press (who have turned it into an unfair narrative). 

I didn't mean to suggest that I think that's how Manziel's text should be received, or how Gardner should have reacted. I just mean that's how I would have felt about it personally (which I acknowledged is much different from how most people would have felt about it, probably to their benefit).  

goblue20111

September 18th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^

"Also, who the hell are you to be handing out advice? GTFO with your patronizing bullshit."

Umm the reigning Heisman trophy winner? Are you serious? And QBs and other players do this to each other all the time. They're friends -- hence why they have each other's numbers. 

goblue20111

September 18th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^

"Also, who the hell are you to be handing out advice? GTFO with your patronizing bullshit."

Umm the reigning Heisman trophy winner? Are you serious? And QBs and other players do this to each other all the time. They're friends -- hence why they have each other's numbers. 

Wee-Bey Brice

September 18th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^

Who is he to be giving out advice?

Well lets see.. first people build you up to be this amazing college QB (just like they did Devin after the ND game), then they tear you down and magnify your shortcomings/weaknesses (Just like they did Devin after the Akron game) and somehow you have to remain level headed enough to bounce back and perform, which he has done. No other college player is better suited to make that comment than Johnny Manziel. Not one.

HipsterCat

September 18th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^

im interested to see where they play avery, is he gonna be the outside corner with countess in the slot, take back his nickel spot,  possibly replace wilson for obvious passing situations, or just be the goto backup for the secondary? he's played some good football for us the last couple years, i think hes been good at nickel corner and that is his ideal spot

LSAClassOf2000

September 18th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^

I believe that Devin Gardner and Johnny Manziel know each other from the camp circuit, so it isn't improbable that he would get such a text perhaps from someone, I would think. Actually, I remember seeing Bruce Feldman retweet that saying that Tajh Boyd, Gardner and Manziel do chat after games and know each other from the Elite 11 camp.  All the same, it is nice of Manziel to provide some encouragement to a fellow QB. 

 

kehnonymous

September 18th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^

I'm mostly worried that Manziel texting Devin somehow triggers an NCAA investigation on our campus.

Seriously though, this isn't all that surprising.  While Manziel may be probably kind of a douchebag, he's also a college kid and a quarterback for a big-name school so he can appreciate the scrutiny that Devin got after The Almost Horror.  If anyone can relate to what it's like to have everyone breathing down your back it's him.  In this way, quarterbacks are an exclusive somewhat close-knit fraternity a la ex-US presidents.

And in this day, most players keep in touch via twitter or whatever and have made friends from summer camps and official visits.  We probably have a lot of guys who have good friends on Ohio who they chat with every month but November.